Disclaimer- I don't own the phantom...

Chapter 18

Orianna composed herself and hurried to follow after Madame Giry and Raoul. She could hear raised voices and quickened her pace. She could see them down the hallway and enter Madame Giry's room. She stopped outside the room as the door was left open slightly so that Orianna could hear what they were talking about. She leaned against the wall and just listened. She could hear Madame Giry's voice.

"It was years ago, there was a traveling circus…."

Orianna listened to the horrifying tale of how her Phantom came to the opera house. It was terrible; living his life on display for all others to poke fun at…the devil's child. She had to hold her sobs back during the tale for fear of Madame Giry hearing her.

"…a composer and a magician, a genius, monsieur."

"Clearly, Madame Giry, genius has turned to madness." Madame Giry sniffled.

"Misunderstood, monsieur…." Orianna couldn't take anymore she left quickly to find a place to clear her thoughts but where could she go? She rubbed her eyes trying to stop herself from crying but the tears were blurring her vision. She needed rest and salvation.

"Christine?" She looked up seeing an opera rat she had become semi-close with.

"Anaya?"

"Are you alright?" Orianna tried to smile and pretend it was but she couldn't; she just collapsed. Anaya caught her before she could fall to the ground and helped her try and stable herself. "Oh Christine, you need rest." Anaya took her up to the ballerina's dormitories and sat her down on a bed. "Do you want to talk about it?" Orianna just shook her head and put her head in her hands. Anaya put her arms around Orianna. "Go ahead and cry Christine…let it out." And she did. Orianna let out everything. She must have been crying forever but by the end of it she had cried herself to sleep.

Orianna woke up the next morning to find Meg sitting on the bed next to her asleep. Orianna stretched and stood up, still in her masquerade clothes. She hurriedly put on a simple white dress and then lay back down in the bed. As she was settling back in, Meg was stirring.

"Why didn't you wake me?"

"You looked incredibly peaceful."

"Are you feeling better Christine?"

"A little emotionally drained from last night… but yes better…"

"Would you like something to eat? Perhaps some tea?"

"Tea would be lovely, thank you." Meg smiled and left quickly. Orianna snuggled back into the bed and looked up at the window above her. It was either raining or snowing or it was still night. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

She woke with a start and sat up. Her dream was not so peaceful. All she could think about was him; and the way he looked at her. She looked next to her and saw a cup of tea just sitting there. Looking out the window, it had become darker outside. It was not night but misty out. She jumped out of the bed and rubbed her temples. She really needed to get away from this place. But, where could she go? That's when it hit her. She could go visit her father's grave. Perhaps she could find a resolution to this problem. She drank the cold tea quickly and opened the door to find Raoul sitting on a chair, quietly sleeping. She bit her lip and walked past him. As she was walking down to the stables, she walked past a long black dress. She pulled it from the rack and brought it down with her. She put it on a rack and walked up to one of the stable hands.

"Excuse me, could you possibly help me?"

"Yes, Miss Daae, how could I be of service?"

"I need you to take me to the cemetery; it's not far from here."

"Ah yes I know of the one you speak of. I'll ready the horses."

Orianna flashed a smile and quickly dressed into the black dress. It was a little low cut for her but she loved it nonetheless. She wrapped a black veil around her head and grabbed a rose. She sighed and hopped into the carriage without looking up.

"To the grave of my father, please."

The carriage took off quickly and Orianna felt a little better getting away from the opera house. But, she needed time to think…time to get her thoughts together and think rationally.

As the carriage bounded down the road, Orianna looked down at the rose clutched in her hand. Everything came down to one question for her. How did she feel? She didn't even know. In the beginning of this whole situation, she had one thought about her phantom. Then, he killed someone. He took another man's life. Yet, she remembered the way he had looked at her and been so gentle. Then, when she ripped his mask off, he blew up. But, she could see where he was coming from now. His childhood had made him so detached from the world. Abandoned by your own mother and thrown into a cage for others to laugh at and mock; that is no life. No wonder he took to music as an outlet. Everyone finds enjoyment in a beautiful piece of music. He holds onto the beauty of music; his only window to the outside world. There were two things that struck a chord with Orianna about this man: his music and his eyes. Both were equally beautiful and equally interesting. Both had an extremely powerful hold over her.

Then again, he frightened her too. But, was she really scared of him or something else? Why was she really with this Raoul figure? Possibly be clinging to him because she was scared to realize her real feelings for this phantom or could she possibly love Raoul? She had so many ideas and thoughts all mixed together. He filled her heart with joy every time she saw him yet there was something not right about him. But, he loved her for her voice at first. And he supposedly gave her comfort when her father passed away. This man had been a huge part of her life. He had given her hope. What did she ever give to him except friendship? Maybe that was all that was necessary. Perhaps all he needed was love and friendship. Someone to be there. No one was there for him in the past except for Madame Giry. Orianna noticed there were quickly coming towards the cemetery and stopped her thoughts. The carriage came to a stop and she got out.

"Thank you." She said to the driver and walked into the cemetery. She just wanted to turn everything back to when she was happy and out of this wretched triangle.

"Little Lotte thought of everything and nothing. Her father promised that he would send her the Angel of Music. Her father promised her….her father promised her."

As she walked through the cemetery, it began to lightly snow. She needed to get out her thoughts and since no one was around, she began to sing.

"You were once my one companion
you were all that mattered
You were once a friend and father -
then my world was shattered

Wishing you were somehow here again
Wishing you were somehow near
Sometimes it seemed,
if I just dreamed,
somehow you would be here

Wishing I could hear your voice again
knowing that I never would
Dreaming of you won't help me to do
all that you dreamed I could

Passing bells
and sculpted angels,
cold and monumental,
seem, for you, the wrong companions -
you were warm and gentle

Too many years
fighting back tears
Why can't the past just die?"

She turned the corner and saw her father's grave.

"Wishing you were somehow here again
knowing we must say goodbye
Try to forgive
teach me to live
give me the strength to try

No more memories, no more silent tears
No more gazing across the wasted years"

She came up to the grave and sat down on the steps leading up to it. The ground was freezing and a little wet but she didn't care. She let silent tears roll down her cheeks.

"Help me say goodbye….help me say...goodbye."

What was she supposed to do? She couldn't decide it for herself. She couldn't decide anything anymore. She placed the rose on the steps and looked up at the huge mausoleum. She sighed and stood up. It had stopped snowing but it was still freezing. She turned to leave when she heard it.

"Wandering child,
So lost, so helpless
Yearning for my guidance…"

Orianna had come to know that voice so well.

"Angel or father? Friend or Phantom?

Who is it there, staring?"

"Have you forgotten your Angel?"

"Angel, oh, speak
What endless longings
Echo in this whisper..."

She turned around and looked at the mausoleum which a light was coming from inside

"Too long you've wandered in winter
Far from my fathering gaze…"

"Wildly my mind beats against you.."

She took a step up towards the entrance as the doors swung open.

"You resist.."

"Yet your/the soul obeys...
Angel of Music!
You denied me/I denied you
Turning from true beauty
Angel of Music!
Do not shun me/My protector
Come to me/your strange Angel..."

She stood in front of the entrance, wondering what to do next.
"I am your Angel of Music...
Come to me; Angel of Music…"
"No, Christine, wait! Wait!" It was another voice. She turned around and saw it was Raoul on horseback. He must have followed her here.
"Raoul?" He jumped off the horse and ran up to her grabbing her hand and pulling her away.
"Whatever you believe,
this man - this thing - is not your father!" Automatically the doors shut and the light disappeared.

"Bravo, monsieur, Bravo!" Raoul stood in front of her and looked around.

"You can't win her love by making her your prisoner!"

"Raoul, please let's go!" She pulled at his arm but he stood his ground.

"Such spirited words! Come, monsieur, come the angel of death commands!"

"Please, Raoul, if you love me let's go!" He turned and nodded. But, as he did so the Phantom jumped down and sliced his arm with a sword. Raoul fell to the ground and the Phantom had his sword to Raoul's heart.

"No please…not like this." She looked at the Phantom and pleaded with her eyes. Distracted by her, Raoul managed to knock the blade away and pushedthe Phantomto the ground. Orianna pulledRaoul away and they both got on the horse.

"Fine…let it be war upon you both!"

Orianna knew this was getting out of hand.

((A/N- A little spin on things, thought you might like it! Added lots and lots of Orianna's thoughts into it! Because even though she is Christine she has a different opinion on things! Added some of the Broadway dialogue in as well because I'm doing a combination of the two! I thought it would be nice to see if Raoul got knocked to the ground instead of the Phantom! oOo! LOL! Please Review! Thanks! And thanks a bunches for the reviews!))